Sun Sep 29 23:14:29 UTC 2024: ## John Ashton, “Beverly Hills Cop” Star, Dies at 76
Fort Collins, Colorado – John Ashton, best known for his role as Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, has passed away at the age of 76. Ashton’s death was confirmed on Thursday.
Ashton starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold in the first two “Beverly Hills Cop” films, released in 1984 and 1987. He reprised his role as a police chief in this year’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”
Ashton’s career spanned over four decades, beginning in the 1970s with films like “An Eye for an Eye” and “Breaking Away.” He was also a frequent face on television, appearing in shows such as “Columbo,” “MASH,” “Dallas,” and “Starsky and Hutch.”
The 1980s marked a significant period in Ashton’s career, as he collaborated with director John Hughes on “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “She’s Having a Baby.” He also had a memorable role in the 1988 action-comedy “Midnight Run,” playing a rival bounty hunter to Robert De Niro’s character.
Throughout his career, Ashton continued to appear in notable films like “Little Big League,” “Trapped in Paradise,” and “Gone Baby Gone.” He also held a regular role in the NBC crime drama series “Hardball” and made guest appearances on popular shows like “The A-Team,” “Police Squad,” and “Law and Order: SVU.”
Ashton is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, as well as multiple children, siblings, and step-children.
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